Abbaye Saint Victor

The foundations of this historic church date back to the early 5th century, with a main structure that was reconstructed in the early 1000s. This makes Abbaye Saint Victor the oldest church in Marseille, and one of the oldest in the entirety of France. If you come expecting ornate decorations a la Notre Dame, you might be disappointed (the Abbey was stripped of its treasures during the later years of the French Revolution); but the absence of gaudy décor is exactly what makes the abbey so appealing. Massive, bare stone walls and angled pillars pair with narrow windows and antiquated crypts to create a distinctly unique cultural experience rich in history and intrigue.